Probus Meeting 7 January 2026: Speaker Mr Gareth Hayden
Wintery weather on Tuesday 6th January introduced a degree of uncertainty about whether to go ahead or cancel. In the event the President decided to resume after the Christmas recess and 9 members braved the conditions to provide an audience for the guest speaker, Mr Gareth Hayden, Lay Pastor in Omagh Methodist Church.
Gareth had been invited to bring a New Year Message and share something of his own background and journey of faith. Born in Lurgan his first job after he left school was in a local linen factory which provided tablecloths and sheets for the “White House” – the one in Portrush! Aged 24 he joined the RUC and after training in Police College in Enniskillen had a varied career in uniform. Gareth’s time in the RUC spanned “the Troubles” furnishing some amusing anecdotes and sobering stories.
A committed Christian from his youth, Gareth was an active member of the Police Fellowship and on retirement from the Force became a qualified Lay Preacher. His New Year message was taken from Proverbs 2. V 1-11 in which all are encouraged to aspire to wisdom and acquire knowledge of what is right and just and fair.
Gareth was thanked for his reflections and thoughtful talk by club member Jim McBain